The Deacon's Bench

Lena Horne to get a Catholic funeral

Celebrities, family and friends will gather Friday for Lena Horne’s funeral at a Roman Catholic church in Manhattan.

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The great singer and actress died Sunday at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She was 92.

Her funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue.

Horne’s casket will leave the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel on Madison Avenue just before the church service, according to a Campbell spokesman.

Quincy Jones, a longtime friend and collaborator, was among those mourning her death, and will probably play a prominent role at the funeral services. On Monday he called her a “pioneering groundbreaker.”

“Our friendship dated back more than 50 years and continued up until the last moment, her inner and outer beauty immediately bonding us forever,” said Jones, who noted that they worked together on the film “The Wiz” and a Grammy-winning live album.

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“Lena Horne was a pioneering groundbreaker, making inroads into a world that had never before been explored by African-American women, and she did it on her own terms,” he added. “Our nation and the world has lost one of the great artistic icons of the 20th century. There will never be another like Lena Horne and I will miss her deeply.”

Lena Horne was a not only a beautiful woman but a great actress and singer. She was a pioneer (as mentioned above) for actress’s of color. Her wonderfully long life was hopefully fulfilling. She gave many hour of pleasure to her admirers and fans. May she rest in peace in the arms of the Goddess.

Lena Horne is a legend in the entertainment industry that can never be replaced. Her showmanship, beauty, grace, charm and song delivery was
only in a class that belonged to one person which was Lena Horne. She was a civil rights activist and she spoke out against the injustice
of her people.
Singers of this era should make it a point to study Lena’s stage
presentation and how she carried herself and delivered a song. Doing so they would be better performers.
Her work is over on this earthly plane, she will rest in peace on a higher plane of consciousness.

Ms. Horne was our cultural bridge to Oprah and President Obama, not just Halle Berry. It’s been my pleasure to deeply enjoy many live performances when living in and visiting Manhattan- “Lena Live on Broadway” stands alone as the most remarkable theatrical experience of my lifetime. Many have forgotten Ms. Horne’s pioneering, because she did it so well.

What I would be concerned about is not all the hours of pleasure she gave to her adoring fans but rather how many hours and days of her life did she give to Our Savior Jesus Christ. As she spoke out about the injustice of her people and being a civil activist, did she speak up for God and his love and justice and commandments which we are to live by. When our earthly plane is over and we go before Our God in heaven: oh yes, our conscious will be enlightened by Our God, the creator of all who will show us His Eternal Truth and what really mattered which is His Word, not what we think or feel and what we should have being doing here on earth. For your information there are no goddess’s in heaven. If anyone thinks they are a goddess or has created one: you will find them in Hell with the deceiver of all lies – Lucifer. As a devout catholic I will tell you, you will find Our God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Virgin Mary and all the angel and saints in heaven. She won’t be leading a swinging heavenly choir in heaven if she made it, she will spend it in adoration and prayers to our God and praying for the souls here on earth. As I, and I hope that many will come to know and love and serve Our Lord and may merit eternal salvation.

I among the many Lena Horne fans around the world, am saddened at her passing. I also like another fan Mr. Venaglia, remember seeing Ms. Horne on Broadway when I was 19 years old. She was performing her Tony Award winning show “Lena Horne, the Lady and Her Music” at the Nederlander Theatre. It was my first time in New York, and my first Broadway show. I remember Ms. Horne stepping out onto the stage gracefully, and graciously in a long body hunging white gown. I literally screamed when she appeared. I was so excited to see her. Her opening number was “From This Moment On”. She belted that song with such power and ease. She was very comfortable on the stage. She adored her fans as we all adored her.
We will miss Miss Horne very much.
Paul Needham

Ms. Horne’s family was Catholic. Her Grandmother, Cora Calhoun and her grandmother’s sister Lena Calhoun were sent to Catholic boarding school in their adolescence. Going into entertainment was against her family’s personal ambitions for her and definately served as a bone of contention between Ms. Horne and her Grandmother Mrs. Cora Horne who had raised her.
This background was instrumental in her stage presence and how she carried herself. The Civil Rights Movement was based and backed in religious and moral principals. The movement was supported by clergy and faith based organizations, it include priests, ministers, and rabbi’s from all over the country. It is almost impossible to imiagine Ms. Horne enduring her life, both trials and tribulations without strong faith and belief that she could do all things through Christ…so the may all the Glory go to God her creator for blessing us with her life…may she rest and rejoice in heaven!!!

How lovely to think of Miss Horne as a Catholic…it is, afterall the enduring worship of Our Savior Jesus Christ…there is a privacy, and pius dignity in the practice of Catholicism..a quiet love..it does not surprise me in the least to think of Miss Horne as a Catholic…it is the quiet home for many millions…and continues to do it’s good work each, and every day..through calamity, and calm…love endures..God Bless the family of Lena Horne..she is with God…Peace to all the earth.

Miss Horne was indeed a Catholic. She never shied away from it but never proslytized either. We worked together in a musical called JAMIACA many years ago and she never missed a Mass at that tiny church in the theater district. She was a great Lady who lived her life with a quiet dignity. may she rest in peace.

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